Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/145038
Strengthen your workforce ALLSTARS The Wipfli Connect for Manufacturers app helps companies manage multiple sources of information, avoiding the "spreadsheet nightmare." Managing the customer lifecycle gets messy without such programs, says Wipfli's Terry Kerscher. N O R T H C A R E E R S I N M A N U F A C T U R I N G 2013 N E W Join the NEW Manufacturing Alliance… a group of manufacturers working with educational institutions, workforce development boards, chambers of commerce and state organizations to promote manufacturing in our region. Our objectives: •Createapositiveviewofmanufacturing careers in our area •GrowpartnershipswithK-16, media and other manufacturers Meet Eric and other All Star winners who are making a difference in manufacturing. •Promoteworkforcedevelopment •Advancecollaborationeffortsthat promote the health of manufacturing A p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e N E W M a n u f a c t u r i n g A l l i a n c e | P r o d u c e d b y I n s i g h t P u b l i c a t 1o n s i who say the two key factors to the technology trend – communication and connection – are having a positive impact throughout the manufacturing landscape statewide. "What I've seen in manufacturing is a tremendous amount of shared best practices between manufacturers," says Weckop. "There are all kinds of New North connections and all kinds of manufacturing networks popping up. We in the IT world invest a lot in being a part of that and participating in those leadership activities because that's how you keep up in your industry." Weckop points to the University of Wisconsin E-Business Consortium as an example of the kind of partnering forums he's seeing. "There are a couple hundred businesses that get together and share best practices. There's a supply chain track, which is where manufacturers' and engineers and product development people go, there's a technology track and then there's a marketers' track," says Weckop. "I just really love what I see in the state relative to people participating in the forums like UWEBC or New North because those are ways people can keep up, see ideas and say 'How can I bring those ideas into my company and help me compete?'" To connect with manufacturing companies focused on the future and to learn more about member benefits, go to www.newmfgalliance.org Fox Valley Technical College understood our needs and developed a program that worked for us. Luke Benrud Director of Operations Dura-Fibre Services for Business & Industry Customized. Innovative. Solutions. Contact our industry experts today! www.fvtc.edu/bis • Appleton (920) 996-2949 • Oshkosh (888) 458-0449 w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m July 2013 • / insight on manufacturing | 13